Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“Any pharmacy,” she says as I open the door for her and buckle her in. “We’d need to find a twenty-four hour one…”
“I’ll fucking break into one and get one—”
“Aleks, for God’s sake, save the heroics for when it’s needed,” she says, pulling up her phone. “Look, there’s one right down on the corner.” She grins. “Let’s go.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Harper
We come out later with six different brands of pregnancy tests and a ridiculously huge family-sized bag of peanut butter cups because I just happened to say I love them, and he didn’t know.
“I can’t eat all these.”
“You could be eating for two,” he says seriously. “I’ll help you. I love that shit.”
At the stoplight, I lean over and kiss him. The moment his lips touch mine, I sigh, a flutter of lightness filling my lungs I haven’t felt in so damn long.
At the next set of lights, he kisses me. While my kiss was tame and tentative, his is unfettered. Hands tangled in hair, fingers on my scalp, our tongues touching. I moan when the light turns green and we pull away.
“Go take the test,” he says, when we park in the driveway.
I like to tease him a little. “They say early morning is the best time. Let’s check on Ivy and then maybe just take it—”
“Don’t try my patience, Harper,” he growls. I stifle a giggle and do what he says.
“What does it say?” he asks through the door. I stand up and unlock it, letting him in. Ivy’s fast asleep, her babysitter sent home for the night.
“Nothing yet. Takes a few minutes.”
“Minutes? Are you fucking kidding me? I thought it was instant!”
I shake my head at him. “You do know that if it’s positive, it takes nine months to have the baby, right?”
He slaps my ass, but not too hard, likely because he thinks I’m pregnant. I’m sure a good ass slap doesn’t hurt a thing, but I don’t tell him. Not yet. I’ll distract him while we wait.
“So our…prisoner. What are your plans tonight?” I ask. “Are you keeping him in holding, or—”
“Do you really want to know what I have planned?” he asks. He’s stripped out of his suit coat and tie but still wears his dress shirt and pants. He’s sex personified with his tousled hair, burning blue eyes and chiseled looks.
I think about it. “No,” I say honestly. “I really don’t.”
I reach over and unfasten the top button of his dress shirt. “Come back to me, though?”
He reaches for my fingers and kisses the tip of each one. “Always, baby. Always.”
My phone beeps when the timer goes off. I blink and stare at the two pink lines on the test. He holds up the second with the word pregnant in bold letters and a moment later, gathers me in a hug so fierce it takes my breath away.
“Baby,” he whispers, his voice all crackly.
“Ivy’s gonna be a big sister,” I say. “You need to call Mikhail.”
“You sleep in our bed tonight,” he says as he leaves. “Promise me, Harper.”
“Of course, of course, I’ll be there.” I mean I’ll check on Ivy of course but if she’s sleeping well, I am more than happy to come back to our bed. I lean in and kiss his cheek. Close my eyes. Remember who I am and who he is before I tell him, “Make him pay, Aleksandr.”
His voice sends shivers down my spine. “You know I will.” He kisses my cheek. “When I come back, I expect you naked and waiting for me. No clothes, Harper. Nothing but you and me. Nothing between us.”
I take a long, hot shower. I try not to think about where my husband is or what he’s doing right now.
I peek in on Ivy and find her asleep. I sit beside her bed and watch her for a little while. It’s almost therapeutic.
“I’ll always protect you,” I whisper. “No matter what you do. No matter who you are. I’ll love you forever.” I bend down and tuck the blanket around her. “Always.”
Sometimes, it’s having good parents that teaches you how to be a good parent yourself. And sometimes you have to find your own way… or beside someone else doing the same damn thing.
I love this sweet girl unconditionally. I know that in my soul. I’m going to pour love into her in a way my parents never did.
I climb into bed in the fluffiest pajamas I own and fall fast asleep.
I wake to the sound of a growl in my ear.
“What did I tell you?”
I yawn sleepily, though I’m immediately awake and my blood is pounding in my ears. Do pregnant women get turned on more easily? Because I am on fire at the feel of Aleks’s hands on me, pinning me in place.
“You know what I told you, Harper.”
I didn’t hear Aleks come in, but he’s obviously been here a while. His hair is damp from the shower, and he’s only wearing a towel around his waist. I tentatively reach my hand out to his arm and stroke it.